How to equip
your EE lab -- Ladyada, an MIT grad student, gives useful suggestions
on setting up an electronics workbench in a company or well-equipped
home workshop. She lists: Hand tools, Soldering tools, Bench Tools,
and more.

ABACOM (sPlan is
a useful, inexpensive schematic editor for Windows; company also
offers a layout editor and front-panel designer)

Spectrum software's
Micro-Cap (SPICE-based circuit simulator; freeware/education/evaluation-version good
for up to 50 components). Get the free Microcap evaluation demo,
and learn how to use it -- it will save you a lot of time! Simulation
won't make you sure that a circuit works, but it WILL save you
a lot of burnt parts... (virtual transistors never blow up, but
microcap has a cute "flames" icon in DC mode which tells you a
transistor would smoke)

An oscilloscope is your friend. You can get the
famous Tektronix 465B (2x100 MHz)
on eBay for 200 euro. Another 150 euro to get it professionnally
calibrated and old caps changed. It may be 30 years old, but it works
like new! Newer Tektronix
'scopes are great, too. This gear is really something.

Other

Vintage and
Older Equipment Identificaion -- DIYers often seek older units
to modify, either because they are cheaper or better-performing.
Older Philips CD players and transports are especially popular.
This site helps you sift thru older equipment.